1950
Class officers weekend was as pleasant as usual with its busy round of work sessions and social activity. We had a chance to visit classes - Oceans and Geography, a welcome change from our daily routines. College administrators discussed their problems and achievements with alumni college, outdoor affairs, and athletics. The new dean, Ralph Manuel '5B, described the scene from his viewpoint. Our evening was graced with a Glee Club concert.
The messages the next morning were enlightening and clear. Charlie Hood '51 discussed his project, this year's alumni fund. Then Bill Andres'29, trustee chairman, and President Kemeny spoke and answered questions, the principal ones pertaining to the potential changing status of coeds. The morning ended with the working sessions for each officer.
At lunch the whole crew gathered at a single table to discuss various affairs and simply to enjoy each other's company. The special moment for us came when the Class of the Year was announced - the honor went to the Class of 1950. Acclamation rose from all sides as SandyMcCulloch and Jack Harned, past and present presidents, respectively, received the award from Mike McGean '49, secretary of the College. The rest of the weekend - a regatta on the Connecticut, a lacrosse victory at Memorial Field, cocktails in Norwich, dinner with daughter at the Lyme Inn, and a leisurely Sunday - was anticlimactic.
With the honors go the obligations. Striving for a stellar reunion and unstinting reunion giving left us exhausted. But last year is past; we are faced with the realities of this year. At last count we were not doing so well. The reason surely is procrastination, but there is no more time for further procrastination. Joel Leavitt is desperate. Please help him by sending your check for this year's drive today. Not tomorrow, please, but today.
Bill Frenzel reports from D.C., where he labors on the Hill to represent his constituents in Minneapolis. He pretends to plod along, but as a member (in the minority) of the Committee on Ways and Means he tries to defend the public purse (in his view without notable success) from devastation. Ruth has been elected president of the Skidmore Alumni Association, an honor that may reflect that one of their three daughters now attends that institution.
N.J. Bell promoted Kingsland (Beau) Oakes to news manager in its public relations department. After serving in the Army counterintelligence corps in France for several years after graduation, Beau joined the Long Branch (N.J.) Record. He then served as assistant city editor of the former Newark News for ten years. Beau joined N.J. Bell in 1971 as a new supervisor. In 1972 he was appointed editor of Outlook, the company newspaper. He lives in Fanwood with his wife and five children.
Alex and Twinks Hoffman have just returned from Florida, assuming that expectations were fulfilled, and a meeting of the Association of American Publishers. Alex is a vp for Doubleday. His primary concern these days is the stance the government either has been taking or is seriously considering that affect writing and publishing. He has spent a considerable amount of his time over the last several years trying to educate politicians on the role of independent writing and publishing in our society - or any free society. While in the Southland Alex was scheduled to see John and Maggie Mac Donald.
Taking insurance on nostalgia, Bob and SueKelley have moved to Buck Hill, Pa., where they have summered since the '30s and where they met and married. When he was an undergraduate, Bob spent his summers as business manager of the Buck Hill Players, a group that included Tom O'Connell and Al Tarr. Bob still operates the manufacturers' representative business he started right after graduation. Headquarters is in Parsippany, N.J. He sells machinery and industrial supplies to distributors. Bob and Sue enjoy three daughters, the youngest of whom is still at home. Robin is a paramedic.
Do you know who created Amos Burke, hero of the ABC television series Burkes Law? If you guessed Frank Gilroy, you were right. Frank had intended to use the character later in a series of detective novels, "... but the opportunity was ruined with the publication of two paperbacks using the character but written by another author." The New York Supreme Court ruled that the authors had misappropriated the character. But it took a series of court cases to establish the value of the loss. The critical issue was that the loss and damage to the original creator was not simply the profits gained by illegal publication. A jury recently decided, after hearing expert testimony, that Frank was entitled to $745,000 plus interest, or more than $1 million.
Tidbits here and there: Dick Dale challenged Dick Durrance'39 in a ski race at Sun Valley last winter. He lost. The crew of The BuffaloShow included Ed Tuck's son Brian and KenRothchild's son Ken, who is also a star on the rugby team. Joe Dimaggio's Bowery Savings Bank elected Clift Whiteman president. Clift moves to Gotham from the twin cities. When there was no room at the inn at the cape. Buzzand Sally Burrill salvaged the evening and the trip for Tom and Janot Ruggles. After 25 years Jerry Smith sent a semaphore from Wilmington. Jay Buck flew in from Chicago and spent an evening with Dick Echikson; Midwesterners are still robust.
If you have a moment, send some news. See you in October.
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Class Agent, 174 Tanglewood Dr. Longmeadow, Mass. 01106
